Honda CR-Z
Honda CR-Z
MSRP: $19,200
Estimated MPG: 35 city / 39 highway
Class: Compact Hatchback
The Honda CRZ is a compact hybrid electric vehicle designed to serve as a hybrid sports car. Specifically, with this car Honda marries traditional sports car features with an electric/gasoline powertrain. Although the vehicle is positioned to trade on its racy appearance, the CR-Z’s driving experience is not quite as engaging as its body work.
The two-seat car has a 1.5 liter, four cylinder engine that delivers 112 hp and Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric engine. True to its sports car heritage, the CR-Z comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment (an optional continuously variable transmission is also available).
With the manual transmission, the CR-Z has an EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. However, like many other hybrids, the CR-Z offers different modes of driving including a sport mode that taps the electric motor to improve throttle response and make the electric power steering more responsive. An Econ mode optimizes use of the systems to maximize fuel economy, and a Normal mode offers the benefits of both balancing performance with fuel economy.
The Honda CR-Z base model with manual transmission has a MSRP starting at $19,200, plus a destination and handling charge of $750. Standard features on the CR-Z include an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry, cruise control, and more. For those who want more features, the CR-Z EX adds a 360-watt AM/FM/CD high-power audio system with seven speakers, Bluetooth support, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more. The CR-Z EX is also available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition. MSRPs for the CR-Z EX and CR-Z EX with Navigation are $20,760 and $22,560, respectively.